Combination lock



Nov. 20 1923 T. l. SUMMERS COMBINATION LOCK Filed-oct. 11, 1922 Faas Invenor Thomas I. Summers Jmgk Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

ST-TES was .Meur orcs.

n COMBINATION LOCK.

Anplication filed October 11, 1922. Serial No. 593,781.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS IsAAc SUM- isrnns, a subject of the King ot `Grreat Britain, and a resident of the city of Hamilton, in the county of Wentwortln Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Locks, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combination locks and the object of the invention is to provide a compactand inexpensive lock of this type which maybe used for a great variety of purposes among which is r that ot' application to an automobile switch.

My invention consists essentially of a lock comprising a frame having a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted therein, a disk assembly carried by said spindle, and locking elements associated with the spindle and disks whereby the spindle may be locked against sliding Amovement or rotational movement at different points of its stroke as desired, all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention showing the spindle at the outerv end ot its stroke or in what might be termed the locked position.

Fig. 2 is a view taken similar to Fig. 1 showing the spindle at the inner end ot its stroke or in what might be termed the unlocked position.

Fig. 3 is a. front view of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4, 4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5, 5 ci' Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.`

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6, 6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a i'ace view of the middle disk shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 showing` it in relation to a locking bar used in my invention.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

1 is the :trame of my lock which in the form illustrated comprises the base plate 2 upon'which is secured, by rivets 3, upright cross plates 4, fand The central cross plate 5 divides the frame into a front compartment 7 and a rear compartment 8.

9 is a suitable face plate to which a dial 10 is secured by rivets 11.

The dial 10 and face plate 9 are provided with registering orifices, and 12 is an indicator disk carrying a sleeve 13 which treely eXtends through the aforesaid registering orifices in the dial and face plate and also engages the bottom of a slot'14 formed in the front frame member 6, so that the disk 12 .is rotatably mounted withrespect to the casing 1.

15 is a collar secured to the inner end of the sleeve 13.

The middle frame member is provided with an orifice 16 opposite to the orifices in the face plate 9 and dial` 10, the purpose of which will presently appear. Y

A portion of the middle frame member 5 is notched at 17 on the upper side of the orifice 16 also for a purpose as will appear.

18 is a spindle extending through the sleeve 13 and orifice 16 and carries at its outer end the knurled head 20.

The spindle 18 is provided with a longitudinal keyway 19 extending inwardly from the knurled head 20,

21 is a pin extending through the collar 15, sleeve 13 and freely lits into the keyway 19.

In this way while the spindle 18 Vis free to slide within the sleeved disk 12, said disk will be rotated simultaneously with the spindle.

22 is a disk lixedly carried by the spindle 18 and 23-and 24 are rear'and :t'ront disks each rotatably mounted on the spindle.

The assembly of disks22, 23 and 24 is locked against longitudinal movement on the spindle by means of pins 25 and 26 which pass through the spindle.

The disk 22 is ot' smaller diameter than the disks 23 and 24.

The disk 22 is provided with a pin 27 on each side thereof and disposed diametrically opposite each other.

28 are two pins carried by the rear face ot the 4front disk 24, and 29 are similar pins carried by the front face of the rear disk 23.

Each of the disks 23 and 24 is provided with a peripheral notch 45. The disk 22 is also provided with a peripheral notch 46 this notch being wider than the notches '45.

30 isa locking bar rigidly secured'fbettween" the frame members 5 and 6 and disposed parallel with and at the same height as the spindle 18. A

The front portion of this locking bar is notched at 31 for a purpose as will presently appear.

32 is a spring plate the front end ot which is supported upon pins 33 and the rear end upon pins 34.

This spring plate .slopes downwardly towards the rear and has trictional contact with the peripheral edges of disks 23 and 24.

35 and 3G are spaced pins carried near the inner end of the spindle 13 the purpose ot which will appear hereinafter.

37 is the inner end ot the spindle 18.

38 and 39 are the two portions of a switch which are connected to the binding posts 40 and 41 carried upon a strip ot insulation 42.

43 and 44 are electric wires secured to the binding posts 4() and 41 respectively.

The construction and operation ot' my invention is as Jfollows.

In the locked position illustrated in Fig. 1 it will be evident that sliding of the spindle 18 is prevented by the engagement or the rear tace of the disk; 23 with the end ot the notch 31 in the bar 30, and also by the engagement between the pin and the front Jface ot the middle trame member 5, so that the spindle is locked absolutely against sliding but is free to be rotated.

It will also be noted that as the spindle is rotated by means of the knurled head 20, the indicator disk 12 and also the middle disk 22, which is fixed to the spindle, are also rotated.

It will also be seenv that the trictional engagement between the spring plate 32 and the peripheral edges ot the disks 23 and 24 will prevent these disks from being normally rotated with the spindle.

The operation of opening is as follows.

The spindle is rota-ted and the pinw27 on the front side ot the disk 22 engages one of the pins 28 on the front disk 24 thus causing rotation of this disk 24, such rotation being continued until the notch 45 in this disk is in alignment withthe locking bar 30.

The spindle is then rotated in the reverse direc-tion and the pin 27 on the vrea-r tace ot the 'disk 22 enga-ges one ot .the pins 29 on the rear disk 23 rotation bein-g continued until the notch 45 in this rear ldisk is also in alignment with the locking bar 30.

The direction of rotation tot the spindle `is again reversed until the position is reached in which the notch 46 in the disk 22 is also in ,alignment with fthe locking bar and with the notches l45.

ln this way the notches inthe three disks are brought into alignment with each other and with the :locking bar.

l`1he spindle may then be 'pushed inwcadly `trame member 5 (see Fig. 5).

This slight turning movement oit the spindle is permitted by making the notch 46 in the middle disk 22 ot greater width than the thickness of the looking bar 30.

The notches 45 in the disks 23 and 24 are just sufficiently wider than the thickness ot this locking Vbar to permit engagement the-rein.

In the locked position illustrated in Fig.

41 it will be noted that the pin 35 prevents,

byV engagement with the front face ot the central frame member 5, any accidental sliding movement of the spindle.

lf it were not for this pin, in the event oit the rear disk 23 being in such a position that the notch was in alignment with the locking bar., a slight sliding movement oi the spindle rearwardly would be possible.

The dial 10 bears any suitable graduations and the indicator. disk 12 bears a line 47 to be read in conjunction with the dial markings in order to provide for the proper reading of the combination.

The operation oft' the lock in conjunction with the switch will be clearly understood 'from the drawings and detailed description is not thought necessary.

In Fig. l the switch is in the open circuit position with the lock in the locked position while in Fig. 2 the switch is in the closed position with the lock in the unlocked Iposition.

The engagement of the end 37 .oit the spindle between the switch elements 38 and 39 closes tho circuit.

The advantage o'i' this arrangement resides in the features whereby, while the owner is driving the car with the circuit closed, the lock is unlocked but when he wishes to leave the switch openn the lock is in the locked position.

A valuable feature or my lock when used in conjunction with an automobile switch is that when in the unlocked position in which the switch is closed, as will be the case when the owner is in the car, the lock is always in the position to be quickly and conveniently locked and the switch opened by a simple movement of the head 20.

rlhis will mean that since the locking is so conveniently accomplished. there will not be the saine tendency te leave fthe' .switch closed as would be the ycase itV the locking were more troublesome.

From the forego-ing it will be evident that I have devised a combination lock which'will be vsuitable for many uses.

Many modiiications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of the invention o-r Vthe seope'of the claims and therefore the tormsshown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

F or instance, While I have illustra-ted the lock for use in the operation of a switch it might be of course used for many different purposes.

Also it is not essential that the number of disks be limited to three as illustrated but any suitable number might be used.

Also while I have shown the frame as builty up with the frame cross members 4, 5 and 6 being separate and riveted to the member 2 these members might all be made in one piece. Y

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A combination lock comprising a trame, a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted therein, a plurality of disks carried by the spindle, means for selectively rota-ting the disks when the spindle is at one extreme end of its stroke, means normally preventing movement of the spindle from thisend position, means co-acting with the disks whereby sliding of the spindle is permitted when the disks are rotated to a predetermined relative angular disposition to each other, and means preventing rotation of the disks when the spindle is in its opposite eXtreme end position. l

2. A combination lock comprising a frame, a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted therein,`a plurality of disks carried by the spindle, means Vfor selectively rotating the disks when the spindle is at one extreme end of its stroke, means normally preventing movement of the spindle from this end position, means co-acting with the disks Whereby sliding of the spindle is permitted when the disks are rotated to a predetermined relative angular disposition to each other, and

to the spindle, means preventingrotation of the disks and spindle when the spindle is in its opposite extreme end position, and means for retaining the spindle in this latter position. i

3. A combination lock comprising a frame, a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted therein, a plurality of disks carried by the spindle, means orselectivelyrotating the disks when the spindle is at one extreme end of its stroke, means normally preventing movement of the spindle from this end position, means co-acting with the disks whereby sliding oi" the spindle is permitted when the disks are rotated to a predetermined relative angular disposition to each other,

'of its stroke, means normally preventing movement of the spindle from this endk position, means co-acting ywith the disks whereby sliding of the spindle is permitted when the disks are rotated 'to a predetermined relative angular disposition to each other, means preventing rotation of the disks when the spindle is in its opposite extreme end 1 position, and stops carried by the spindle and co-acting with the frame for positively locking the spindle against sliding movement at either end otitsstroke as desired.

5. A combination lock comprising a frame, a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted therein, a disk assembly carried by the spindle, said assembly comprising a plurality of disks some of which are ixedlv carried and others rotatably carried by the spindle, means co-acting between adjacent disks whereby the rotatably'mounted vdisks may be selectively rotated when the spindle is at one extremev end of its stroke, a friction spring clutch elementengaging the rotatably mounted disks, locking means co-actin'g with the disks and normally preventing sliding of the spindle and disks from the aforesaid end position, means for releasing said locking means and permitting sliding ofthe spindle when the disks have been rotated to a predetermined relative angular disposition to each other and to the spindle, and means for preventing rotation of the disks and spindle when the spindle is at the opposite end of its stroke. y

6. A combination lock comprising a frame` a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted therein, a disk assembly carried by the spindle, said assembly comprising a plu` rality of disks some of which are fiXedly Carried and others rotatably carried by the spindle, the disks provided with peripheral. notches therein, means co-acting between adjacent disks whereby kthe disks may be 'Y selectively rotated and the peripheral notches brought into alignment, a locking bar se-y cured in the frame and disposed parallel to the spindle, the locking bar co-acting with Athe disks whereby the spindle is free to rotate but normally locked against sliding when at one end of its stroke, and is permitted sliding freedom when the notches in the disks are in alignment with each other and with the locking bar.

7. A combination lock comprising a frame,

a spindle mounted for axial .sliding moyer ment andi-alsof'.forrotation therein, a disk `y assembly carried by the spindle, said assembly comprising a plurality `of vdisks somey alignment, a notched lockin'glbar secured in` thel frame and disposed parallel to they spindle, the disks adaptedrto project intor the notch inthe locking` bar when the spindle is-atzone end of its stroke,v and the locking bar adapted to project into the aligned pe-v ripheral notches in the disks asrtliespindl'e is moved axially to the opposite end of its'Y stroke.

" 8. Afcombinationlock comprising a frame, a spindle slidably and :rotatablyimountedy therein, a disk assembly carried by the spindle,-said assembly comprising a plurality ofdisks,- someof which areififtedly` carried and others rotatably carried by the spindle,-, Y kthe disks provided with peripheral notches,y

therein, means co-actingbetween adjacent disks whereby the disks-:may be selectively rotated and the peripheralinotches lbrought Y into aligninenha notched locking` barsecuredl in the framel and disposed parallelto the spindle,fthe rdisks adapted to -proj ectf intothe notch in the locking bar when the spindle is s at one end of its stroke,rand the locking bar adapted to -proj ect into the alignedperipher al .notches in the disks=as-the spindle is moved to i the opposite yend ot its stroke,y and stopsl carried byl the spindle and r3o-actingl Y dispositionV to each other and to the spindle,

with the frame Yfor positively lockingthe spindle against'sliding motion atV either endof its stroke -as desired.-

9.y A combinationlock comprising a `ramey a spindlezslidably andA rotatably mounted therein, a disk-1 assembly carried' bythe -Y spindle, said assembly comprising applu-fA rality of vdisks some of which ,are-fixedly,

carriedy and others rotatably carried by the isv at one extreme end of its stroke, an inclined spring plate -mounted in the Jrame and engaging fthe-peripheral edges of ,the disks,

llocking, means co-acting with the disks and normally preventing` sliding of the spindle and disksfrom the aforesaid end position,

means for releasing said locking means and f permitting ysliding of the spindle when the diskshave been rotated to a predetermined j relative angular disposition to each other and to the spindle, and means for preventing rotation of thev disks and spindle vwhen the spindle vis at the oppositeend ot its stroke.

10. A combinations-lock comprising, a

frame, a spindle slidably and rotatably mounted therein, a disk `assembly carried' by thespindle, said assembly comprisinga v plurality of'dis'ks soniefot whichare iixedly carried and others rotatably carried by the-A spindle, the rotatably carried disks being of' greater diameter than .the liXedlycarried disks, means coacting between adjacent f disks *wherebyv the rotatably mounted disks may be selectively rotated,lwhen the spindle `is at one extreme end of `its stroke, anzinclind spring plate mountedin the trame and f engaging the peripheral edges oi the rotatably carried disks,locking means co-acting with the disks 1anddnormally preventing vslidingof the spindle land disks fromthe aforesaid'end position, means for releasing said .locking means and permitting sliding. of thezspindle ywhen the disks have been* rotated to a predetermined relative angular and means for preveifitingA rotation of the disks and spindle'when the spindle is at thev 

